rt
Is proud its curious labours to impart.
She but commands,--and eager Nature brings
The best and fairest of her offerings.
The distant Climates with each other vie,
Whate'er she wants or wishes, to supply.
The _North_ before her spreads his furry store;
The _South_ his golden sands and silver ore;
The sumptuous _East_ is anxious to display
Gems of the brightest hue and purest ray;
The _West_, by arts to other climes unknown, }
For her gives lustre to th' unpolish'd stone, }
And shapes the rugged gold with cunning all his own. }
Th' obedient _Seasons_ bend to her controul,
Invert their course, and in new order roll.
The hoary _Winter_ to her wish doth bring
The scented blossoms of the balmy _Spring_;
The forward _Spring_ impatient doth disclose
The full-blown beauties of the _Summer_ Rose;
Th' encroaching _Summer_ robs th' _Autumnal_ fields
Of the rich fruitage which their bounty yields;
While _Autumn_ looks on _Winter_ with disdain,
And courts an union with the _Vernal Train_.
E'en _Time_ accords to her imperial sway;
She rules the Night, and she directs the Day.
But the glad Day affords her no delight;
She hates the Sun, and revels in the Night.
As she went on,--the gaudy carpet spread
Its velvet surface for her stately tread;
While the soft flute and animating lyre
Awake to rapture every fond desire.
_Profusion_ follow'd,--for whose single meal,
Whole Hecatombs receive the Butcher's steel.
Next _Drunkenness_ roar'd forth the beastly strain,
And _Waste_ and _Riot_ closed the glutted Train.

And yet methought I saw, to them unseen,
Wan _Ruin_ stalk behind, with haggard mien,
Expecting instant prey;--and with him came
The angry _Fever_, whose insatiate flame
Drinks up the pure and purple streams of Life;
And every Disease that harbours strife
With mortal Natures.--Pallid, pining Care, }
Pain, griping Penury, with black Despair, }
And agonizing Death, in all his sable pomp, were there. }

Next _Melancholy_ came, with solemn pace;
A purple veil o'er-spread her moisten'd face.
And now she fix'd her eyes upon the ground;
Now with dejected air, she turn'd around,
As if to view the sad approaching Train,
Degraded by unfeeling FOLLY'S chain.
Pale _Science_ follow'd;--to